MLB’s awards finalists and how they might finish

By Steven Marcussteven.marcus@newsday.comNovember 11, 2018

Major League Baseball’s top awards, as voted upon by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, will be announced this week. A look at the three finalists for each award in predicted order of finish:

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Announced: Monday

Shohei Ohtani, P/DH, Angels

Had a great run in a 104-game season shortened by injury. He hit .285 with 22 home runs and drove in 61 in 326 at-bats. He also was 4-2 on the mound with 63 strikeouts in 51 1⁄3 innings before his right elbow gave out. requiring Tommy John surgery.

Miguel Andujar, 3B, Yankees

Any other year and he’d win. The Yankees’ most consistent hitter averaged .297 with 27 homers and 92 RBIs. He set a rookie record for doubles with 47, topping Joe DiMaggio’s 44 in the 1936 season.

Gleyber Torres, 2B, Yankees

Was called up in late April and had a big May, batting .325 with nine home runs. He made the All-Star team but wasn’t quite the same after a hip injury, finishing at.271 with 24 homers and 77 RBIs.

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Announced: Monday

Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves

The Braves won the NL East, and the 20-year-old provided the spark with 26 homers, 64 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

Juan Soto, OF, Nationals

At 19, he hit 22 homers, tying Bryce Harper’s rookie total in 2012. Finished with .292 batting average and 70 RBIs.

Walker Buehler, RHP, Dodgers

If only the postseason counted. Buehler won the NL tiebreaker against the Rockies and threw seven scoreless innings against the Red Sox in the World Series. He was 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA in the regular season, with two stays on the disabled list.

AL MVP

Announced: Thursday

Mookie Betts, OF, Red Sox

Won the AL batting title with a .346 average, hit 32 home runs and stole 30 bases to become the first 30-30 batting champ.

Jose Ramirez, 3B, Indians

Betts, but with a .285 batting average. He hit 39 homers, stole 34 bases and drove in 105 runs.

Mike Trout, OF, Angels

Hit .312 with 39 homers and 24 stolen bases. He had a career high on-base percentage of .460.

NL MVP

Announced: Thursday

Christian Yelich, OF, Brewers

Likely sealed the award with a red-hot September when he hit .352 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs. Finished with 36 homers, 110 RBIs and a league-leading .326 batting average.

Javier Baez, 2B/SS, Cubs

Led the league with 111 RBIs. First Cub to hit 30 homers, 40 doubles and steal 20 bases in one season.

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies

Continues to be the best player not to win MVP. Terrific on offense and defense. Hit 39 homers to lead the league for the third straight season. Won a Gold Glove for the sixth straight time.

AL CY YOUNG

Announced: Thursday

Blake Snell, LHP, Rays

Led the majors with a team-record 21 wins. He had a 1.89 ERA and struck out 221 in 180 2/3 innings. He finished the season with nine straight victories.

Justin Verlander, RHP, Astros

Went 16-9 with a 2.52 ERA and led the league with 290 strikeouts.

Corey Kluber, RHP, Indians

A two-time winner of the award, Kluber had his first 20-win season and led the league in innings pitched with 215.

NL CY YOUNG

Announced: Thursday

Jacob deGrom, RHP, Mets

With a 10-9 record, deGrom would become the Cy Young Award winner with the fewest victories since the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez went 13-12 in 2010. DeGrom should win the award based on his 1.70 ERA and quality starts. He held the opposition to three or less runs 29 times and had 24 straight quality starts. Both were single-season major league records.

Max Scherzer, RHP, Nationals

Has won two straight and three overall Cy Youngs but probably not this time, even though he led the majors with 220 2⁄3 innings pitched and 300 strikeouts. Went 18-7 with a 2.53 ERA.

Aaron Nola, RHP, Phillies

Second behind deGrom with a 2.37 ERA. Went 17-6 in his fourth major-league season.

AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Announced: Tuesday

Bob Melvin, A’s

Melvin should be called most valuable manager. He won the NL award in 2007 with the Diamondbacks, and then captured the 2012 AL award with the A’s. He could make it three as he led the A’s to the Wild Card.

Kevin Cash, Rays

Cash found a way to win 90 games in a division with the Red Sox (108) and the Yankees (100).

Alex Cora, Red Sox

The rookie manager who won the World Series can blame all the talent on his team for him not winning this award. Not that he’d trade the World Series for it.